Farmers Market sprouts roots on Friday night

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

Van Colvin watches as his daughter, Crystal, places tomatoes on a scale during Friday night’s Farmers Market. Colvin has been selling produce at the market for 10 years and says he was stunned by the large evening crowd. (James Clark photo)

The way customers have made a plow line to the Farmers Market, you could say business there is really growing.

This year has marked the first time the Farmers Market has operated under its newly built pavilion. Another milestone took place Friday night – the first time the Farmers Market has opened for business in the evening.

Judging by early feedback, the Friday night business hours were an overwhelming success.

“I couldn’t even get my truck unloaded,” said Viola resident and renowned tomato grower Van Colvin. “This is 100 times better than I would have ever thought. I can tell you right now I didn’t bring enough stuff. I’ve got more at home, but I didn’t think I would need it.”

Colvin has been growing tomatoes since 1960 and he’s been selling his produce at the local Farmers Market for the last 10 years. The market has traditionally been a morning-time affair, with hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays until around 11 a.m.

Those hours will now be expanded to include 4 to 8 p.m. every Friday.

“This is going to be big on Friday nights,” said Farmers Market manager Mary Cantrell.

Longtime Farmers Market merchant and Green Hill resident Aubrey Hutchins agrees. Hutchins grows just about anything when it comes to vegetables and had plenty of good-looking blackberries among his many items for sale Friday.

“This pavilion made the market,” said Hutchins. “It’s made all the difference in the world this year. And Friday nights are real good too. It gives people who can’t make it in the mornings a chance to come by when they get off work.”

Customer Cleta Bouldin sure seemed to enjoy the night-time shopping.

“I like it better at night,” she said. “I just love to come up here and visit with all the people and this is the best place to come to buy half runner green beans.”